Means for embossing sheet metal



A ril 13, 1937. 1 w. J. .PANNIER, JR I 2,077,123

' MEANS FOR EMQOSSING SHEET METAL Filed Jan. 9, 1957 7 g 11? '2 g |Q a i a WC" mar CUWWMUL 16 15 Q4 @RIDER Nam/ ABE, STEEL @WPANY 1 .4

Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES- 2,077,128 I MEANS FOR EMBOSSING SHEET'METAL William J. Pannier, Jn,

Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pannier Brothers Stamp- Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 9, 1937, Serial No. 119,788

14 Claims.

My invention refers to the art of embossing or stamping sheet metal or the like, and consists of an improvement in means for applying it.

In the usual operations of stamping or em- 5 bossing tags, plates, boxes, containers, etc. of sheet metal, it is customary to subject the sheet metal blank to the action of deforming male and female dies. These may be of metal having corresponding projecting and recessed portions, or

of individual type members and a co-acting matrix, or other equally expensive and complicated means whereby to stamp the blank conformably when subjected to pressure between such pair of male and female members.

In my present improvement I utilize a pair of sheet metal embossing dies which themselves have been first deformed by subjection to pressure between deforming male and female type or other equivalent means, so as to produce in the sheet metal coacting and interfitting male and female character-forming dies.

The sheet metal embossing dies thus formed of suitably strong and resistant metal are then used when suitably mounted, as embossing elements on interposed sheet metal blanks.

The present invention is generally similar to those of Pannier Patents No. 1,856,928 and 1,912,- 158, but involves improvements in the construction of one of the pressing bases and in the provision in both of changeable stamping dies or type, as shall be hereinafter described. In my present construction the stamping sheet metal members are continuously plane or fiat, except as to the projecting and receding, or male and female, stamping characters. Both as shown are preferably provided with appropriately located openings for clearance of the stamping terminals of separate type, oppositely mounted in the pressing heads, for simultaneous marking with the stamping plates themselves.

In the drawing showing one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an under face or plan view showing the mounting of the female stamping plate on the under side of its operating head;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mounting of the coacting male stamping plate on the upper face of its supporting base;

Fig. 3 is a partial under plan view of the upper reciprocable stamping head;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view thereof on the line IV--IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial transverse section on the lines VV, VV, of Figs. 1 and 2, when the two stamping heads are together in operation.

Referring to the drawing, .A represents an upper reciprocable head supporting a plate holding base a in operative relation to the lower stationary head B carrying the plate holding base 12 of a stamping or embossing machine or press.

If preferred, the upper head and base may however be stationary and the lower head and base may be reciprocable, depending on varying working conditions. The upper plate holding base a is slidably or otherwise mountedin head A as by tongue and groove engagement 2, for easy placement and removal. The lower plate holding base 2) is mounted on and secured to head B by any suitable means.

The active marking elements of the construc- 'tion are a recessed or female sheet metal plate C and a similar plate D, each providedwith corresponding interfitting characters, between which the'thin metal blank to be stamped or embossed is acted upon.

Plate C is held upwardly against base a, by an inwardly extending fixed flange 3 and an oppositely located movable flange 4 retracted by a spring pressed withdrawal head 5 having a button or handle 6.

Plate-D rests upon base b under fixed retaining fianges l and retraotible flanges 8 of a head 9 withdrawn by a similar button or handle [0, as in prior Patent No. 1,912,158.

Each of plates 0 and D is shouldered and recessed variably from the other, to avoid misplacement, and for engagement of the positively locating pins or studs l2 and [3, of bases a and b. In the prior constructions noted there was utilized a resilient cushion mounting for the female embossing plate C. In the present construction such cushion is dispensed with and head a is provided with a series of positively supporting upstanding ridges l4 terminating on the general level of the contacting face of the head. Be.- tween such ridges and at a common depressed level, are alternating clearance channels defined by their bottom faces l5.

The depth of such channels is accurately defined to admit of and receive the extended portions of the depressed or female characters or letters Iliof the stamping plate C.

The depth of the channels is very slightly less than that of the characters It when plate C is first placed in position, providing for slight initial compression and close contact of the plate characters against the bases l5 when the fiat face pgrtions of the plate engage the supporting ridges Thus, when the two stamping plates are located together in working relation, the projecting male terminals will deform the blank e and effect contact with the confronting recessed portions of the female characters, and with a positive, definite and unvarying deformation of the successive blanks between the confronting character portions of both plates. The opposite plate bearing face of head b is continuously flat, with the male characters Isa projecting outwardly beyond it, as in Fig. 5.

As thus located the male and female stamping characters correspond and register, and when the thin metal blank e to be embossed is placed 15 between them and pressure exerted the outwardly projecting reverse character portions l6 of the plate C will be forced directly against opposing resistance of channel faces l and the plane faces of the plate against the supporting ridges I4.

20 By the slight difierence thus provided there is thus sufficient latitude so that upon the first subjection of a blank to pressure between the stamping plates, the projecting portions of the female die plate C are first pressed down into 25 firm contact with the channel faces IS, with eventual firm placement on them and the ridges. By such construction and provision the successive pressing operations on each blank are rendered accurately uniform, unvarying and posi- 30 tive.

In certain cases it is desirable to provide for variation in one or more features of the standard marking effected by any particular set of the plates C and D.

Ordinarily such plates may utilize any appropriate or suitable characters, such as Order No. or the name of a manufacturing or other company, or the like, for standard identification of the product to be marked by the stamped 40 blank.

When necessary or desirable, as for instance in identifying the order number, I utilize suitable type ll and [8, in cooperating pairs and of female and male character, for simultaneous 45 marking in connection with the main plates C and D. Such type, of individual letter or figure denomination, with suitable filling slugs I9, are insertable through a slotted opening 20 of base a and a similar opening 2i of base I).

They are shouldered as at 22 for limiting engagement with an offset shoulder 23 in each base, and their outer terminals abut heads A and B respectively for firm positioning in operation, as in Fig. 5.

55 When thus located the active terminals of the type are on the same general level as the several permanent male and female characters of the plates C and D and are readily substituted by others when occasion requires, as by other 60 type identifying a different order number, or for other special identification.

It will thus be apparent that in providing the sheet metal embossing plates C and D with any desired configuration or character forming projections and depressions, they are mounted in pairs, one in registering relation to the other, and subjected to the deforming action of the male and female members on an interposed blank. Any desired number of embossing characters may be completely developed on plates C and D to comprise the entire subject matter to be stamped throughout so much of the area of the pair of plates as will transmit to the blank the desired 75 characters.

By providing the plate-engaging face of base a with the series of comparatively narrow supporting ridges I 4 and the intervening channels limited by their depressed bottom faces l5, extending in parallel relation lengthwise of the base, I secure improved uniformity of product compared to cushioned resistance.

Thus the female character embossing plate member C ensures positive support and resistance, with resulting uniformity and accuracy of the action of the male plate member D on the blank, under proper pressure.

It will be understood also that if desired the width of'the channels may be enlarged or reduced, or any particular or restricted recessed area of the plate receiving face of the base may be utilized for clearance of any special embossing emblem or character, within lateral supporting ridges, or their equivalent.

Likewise the changeable type I! and I8, insertible through openings 20 and 2| in bases a and b, and in combination with the characters of plates C and D, amplify and extend their usefulness and functioning capacity. The female type member I! extends through its socket 2!] in register with any one of the depressed channel bases l5, and the recessed and projecting terminals of both type members are on the common plane and conform with those of the embossing plate characters.

By thus locating the type holding sockets, they are in convenient alining register with any other related permanentcharacter elements of the embossing plates, when such registering relationship is desirable or useful.

By means of the above described construction I am enabled to cheaply and quickly manufacture pairs of sheet metal embossing die members, each having its own individual characters or deforming projections and depressions, each of which pairs is capable of satisfactorily and efficiently embossing several thousand of the thin sheet metal blanks acted upon.

Also, in connection with the channelled base at their operation is improved, with increased uniformity of the product and prolongation of use, while the supplemental changeable type members materially enlarge their scope of usefulness. V

The construction furthermore avoids and saves the expense of making and storing a large number of heavy dies as is commonly done. When worn, any particular pair of embossing plates may be readily reproduced and, when a proper equipment of the separable type members is included, provide complete and serviceable means for the stamping of a great and varied output of sheet metal tags or the like at low cost.

The advantages of the invention and its adaptation to a great variety and range of work will be readily understood and appreciated by all those familiar with the operation of embossing sheet metal. It is in no way limited as to size, design, or other particular features described and illustrated, and may be changed or varied by the skilled mechanic in adapting it to its intended use within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:-- v

1. In combination with the stamping plate holder of apress having outwardly extending supporting portions on a common plane and an alternating depressed area section, a sheet metal embossing plate resting on said outwardly extending portions and having a deformed character portion extending beyond the plate into the depressed area section.

2. In combination with the stamping plate holder of a press having outwardly extending supporting ridges on a common plane and an intervening depressed area channel portion, a sheet metal embossing plate resting on said ridges and having a deformed character extending beyond the plate into the channel portion.

3. In combination with the stamping plate holder of a press having outwardly extending supporting ridges on a common plane and an intervening depressed area channel portion provided with a resisting bottom face, a sheet metal em.- bossing plate resting on said ridges and having a deformed character extending beyond the plate into the channel portion and against its bottom face.

4. In combination with the stamping plate holder of a press having a series of supporting ridges terminating on a common plane and intervening channels having depressed base surfaces also on a common level, a sheet metal embossing plate resting on the ridges and having character forming elements extending inwardly towards the depressed channel base surfaces.

5. In combination with the stamping plate holder of a press having a series of supporting ridges terminating on a common plane and intervening channels having depressed base surfaces also on a common level, a sheet metal embossing plate resting on the ridges and having character forming elements extending inwardly against the depressed channel base surfaces.

6. In combination with the stamping plate holder of a press having outwardly extending supporting portions on a common plane and an alternating depressed area section, a sheet metal embossing plate resting on said outwardly extending portions and having a deformed character portion extending beyond the plate into the depressed area section, and a perforating clearance opening for separate type.

'7. In combination with the stamping plate holder of a press having a series of supporting ridges terminating on a common plane and intervening channels having depressed base surfaces also on a common level, a sheet metal embossing plate resting on the ridges and having character forming elements extending inwardly against the depressed channel base surfaces, and a separate embossing type extending through the holder and embossing plate and terminating in the working plane of the latter.

8. In combination with the opposing bases of an embossing machine provided with a flat face and a recessed face respectively, a pair of embossing plates comprising a male plate secured to the flat face and a female plate secured to the recessed plate each having characters registering with the other.

9. In combination with the opposing bases of an embossing machine provided with a fiat face and a recessed face respectively, a pair of embossing plates comprising one secured to the fiat face base having outwardly extending male characters, and one secured to the recessed face base having opposing inwardly extending female characters registering therewith and projecting into the face recesses thereof.

10. In combination with the opposing bases of an embossing machine provided with a flat face and a recessed face respectively, a pair of embossing plates comprising one secured to stamping plate secured to the fiat face base,

having projecting characters, a companion stamping plate secured to the opposite base against its ridges and having recessed characters extending into the channels thereof and engageable by the projecting characters of the opposite stamping plate for embossing an intervening blank.

12. In an embossing machine, a flat face base and an oppositely located co-acting base provided with a series of plate-supporting ridges and intervening channels, one of said bases being movable towards and from the other, a stamping plate secured to the flat face base having projecting characters, a companion stamping plate secured tothe opposite base against its ridges and having recessed characters extending into the channels and against the base faces thereof and engageable by the projecting characters of the opposite stamping plate for embossing an intervening blank.

13. In an embossing machine, a fiat face base i and an oppositely located co-acting base provided with a series of plate-supporting ridges and intervening channels, one of said bases being movable towards and from the other, a stamping plate secured to the flat face base having projecting characters, a companion stamping plate secured to the opposite base against its ridges and having recessed characters extending into the channels thereof and engageable by the projecting characters of the opposite stamping plate for embossing an intervening blank, and separate stamping type extending through each base and its stamping plate and having confronting projecting and recessed character forming terminals conforming to the planes of the corresponding stamping plate characters.

14. In an embossing machine, a flat face base and an oppositely located co-acting base provided with a series of plate-supporting ridges and intervening channels, one of said bases being movable towards and from the other, a stamping plate secured to the flat face base having projecting characters, acompanion stamping plate secured to the opposite base against its ridges and having recessed characters extending into the channels thereof and engageable by the projecting characters of the opposite stamping plate for embossing an intervening blank, separate stamp-ing type extending through each base and its stamping plate and having confronting projecting and recessed character forming terminals conforming to the planes of the corresponding stamping plate characters, each of said type having limiting shoulders engaging the bases, and outer confining and supporting heads for the machine.

WILLIAM J. PANNIER, JR. 

